FLIP, FLAP, BOOM!
A creative workshop for children aged 6 to 11, designed to explore the book as a narrative, visual, and playful object.
During the workshop, participants will create a small flap book, a little book with movable flaps that open to reveal hidden details and create surprising effects. Through paper cutting, colour, and composition, each child will build a short invented story made of images, characters, environments, and small plot twists.
The workshop encourages experimentation with storytelling, manual skills, and imagination, transforming simple sheets of paper into a playful, personal animated book.
What will be done
Children will be guided in designing and creating a small book with flaps.
They will draw and colour their own story, cut out paper elements, and build openings that reveal hidden images or new parts of the narrative.
Timetable
11.00 – 11.45
12.00 – 12.45
Mattatoio di Roma, Piazza Orazio Giustiniani 4
Objectives
The workshop fosters creativity, narrative skills, and fine motor abilities. Participants will learn how to design a visual sequence, use cutting as an expressive tool, and build a small book-object.
Participants: max 10 people
Workshop duration: 45 minutes
Final outcome: each participant will take home their own illustrated flap book, a small handmade story with interactive windows.
Tools: all necessary tools and materials are provided by She.Lab. Just bring your creativity!
REGISTRATION LINK: https://shelab.it/workshops/19
A NOTEBOOK IN 5 STEPS
An introductory workshop on handmade bookbinding for teenagers, young people, and adults aged 14 and above.
During the workshop, participants will discover the basics of handmade notebook construction, learning how to fold, punch, and sew paper using a five-point binding technique. The workshop combines precision, manual skills, and attention to detail, offering a simple yet complete introduction to the world of bookbinding.
For the notebook cover, silkscreen-printed papers from Varsi Art&Lab will be used, turning each piece into a unique and precious object.
What will be done
Participants will be guided step by step in the creation of a handmade notebook.
They will start by choosing the silkscreen-printed cover, then move on to folding the sheets, preparing the holes, and finally sewing the notebook using a five-point binding technique.
Timetable
15.00 – 15.45
16.00 – 16.45
17.00 – 17.45
Mattatoio di Roma, Piazza Orazio Giustiniani 4
Objectives
The workshop introduces participants to the basic techniques of hand bookbinding. The goal is to understand the structure of a notebook, become familiar with tools and key steps, and create a functional and personalised object.
Additional Information
Varsi Art&Lab provides recycled papers from its screen-printing studio: print tests and colour proofs created by contemporary urban artists.
Participants: max 10 people
Workshop duration: 45 minutes
Final outcome: single-signature notebook bound with a 5-point stitch, fully personalised by each participant
Tools: all necessary tools and materials are provided by She.Lab. Just bring your creativity!
REGISTRATION LINK: https://shelab.it/workshops/20
SHE.LAB is a creative studio specializing in editorial design and artisanal bookbinding.
The project was founded in 2019 with the aim of creating a reference point for enthusiasts of books, paper artifacts, and handmade objects.
Paola Pompili and Claudia Mosena, united by their passion for paper and books, collaborate at the Varsi Art&Lab studio and organize workshops and other initiatives focused on sharing their knowledge and expertise.
